Combination of covers for open top receptacles



July 5, 1960 c. o PETERSON T 2,943,903

COMBINATION OF COVERS FOR OPEN TOP RECEPTACLES Original Filed Aug. 17, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTOR :Y

5, 1950 c. o. PETERSON ETAL COMBINATION OF COVERS FOR OPEN TOP RECEPTACLES Original Filed.Aug. 17, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIII.

NVENTORS. Carl 0. l 'etersou By Norman J. Spmdler 1' A7 TOR-NE) nited States atent COMBINATION OF COVERS FOR OPEN TOP RECEPTACLES Carl 0. Peterson and Norman J. Spindler, Jamestown, N.Y., assignors to Watson Manufacturing Company,

Inc., Jamestown, N.Y., a corporation of New York Substituted for abandoned application Ser. No. 374,546, Aug. 17, 1953. This application Sept. 10, 1956, Ser. No. 609,034

2 Claims. (Cl. 312-311) This invention relates to open-top receptacles of the type used to contain various card or sheet records, and is a refile of abandoned application, Serial No. 374,546, filed August 17, 1953, and is more particularly directed to the provision of a combination of covers for large receptacles of this type.

Receptacles of the class to which this invention relates are more suitable for the accommodation of large quantities of records that must be frequently processed and that, by reason of their contents, must be protected against unauthorized examination. Generally, these receptacles are of considerable length and it would be difficult in the extreme to provide a single cover that could be conveniently and easily manipulated into and out of closed position. It is possible to provide multiple covers for a receptacle of this type but unless each cover is equipped with separate locking means, or some interlocking arrangement effected between covers, there is no safety or protection to the contents of the receptacle. It has been found that to provide a multiplicity of covers of this nature adds considerably to the expense of the entire structure and, to some extent at least, is more difiicult for a user of the receptacle than should reasonably be necessary. Furthermore, multiple covers, as might ordinarily be applicable to a receptacle of this type, serve only the single purpose of protecting the contents against unauthorized examination.

It is a purpose and object of the present invention to provide multiple covers for a receptacle that so cooperate in closed position as to enable use of conventional locking devices on only certain of the covers in order to prevent unauthorized access to the receptacle contents.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of multiple covers of different types for a given receptacle, certain of the covers being pivotally movable into an open and out of the way position, whereas therernaining cover or covers are capable of sliding movement into position to expose various portions of the receptacle contents.

' Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a pair of end covers for a givenrec'eptacle that pivot into and out of closed position in conjunction with at least one intermediate'cover that may traverse the length of the receptacle, but is-nonremovable therefrom.

Another and very important object of the invention lies in the provision of one or more intermediate covers between a pair of end covers, the intermediate cover being capable of traversing the length of the receptacle opening when the end covers are in open position and, as found convenient, the intermediate cover serving as a work shelf for an operator in the examination, sorting, and posting of records contained in the receptacle.

A more specific object of the invention lies in the provision of a pair of end covers for the access opening of the receptacle that are pivotally movable from closed position to an out-of-the-way open position in conjunction with non-removable work shelf covers that may traverse lengthwise of the receptacle when the end covers are in open position and will be secured against exposure of ice the receptacle contents when the end coversare secured:

in closed position.

Other objects and advantages of the ventio'n will {be more fully understood from a consideration of the follow" ing specification, taken in conjunction with the accoms panying drawings, in which Fig. l is a perspective viewvof a record receiving re ceptacle in which the several covers embodying the invention are shown in open and closed positions; f

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, the various'covers occupying the same relative positions as shown in Fig. l; f

Fig. 3 is an end view of the receptacle showing one end cover in fully opened position;

Fig. 4 is an opposite end view to that of Fig. 3 and shows the other end cover in closed position;

Fig. 5 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary vertical trans: verse sectional view and is taken substantially as suggested by the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the end structure and the" support for one of the intermediate covers and is taken substantially suggested by the line 6-6 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view showing the relationship of an end cover'and the two intermediate covers.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,.the refer ence numeral 10 is employed togenerally designate a.

details of the structure of the receptacle and its assembly form no part of the invention. It is sufiicient to state that the top edges of the front, rear, and end walls 12, 13, and 14, respectively, terminate in a horizontal inward ly directed rim 16 which is finished by a short depending flange 17. r 1

In the present disclosure of the invention, the receptacle is rectangular in shape and of considerable length for the purpose of accommodating a large quantity ofrecords. It is proposed to provide a pair of, end covers 18 as a means for partially closing the top access opening of the receptacle. These end covers 18 are attached to the rear wall of the receptacle in a manner to permit their being moved rearwardly of the receptacle and lowered to an out-of-the way position, substantially as suggested in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. One specific means for directing movement of these covers is shown and .described in our application, Serial No. 341,262, filed March 9, 1953, now Patent No. 2,758,744. Whenthese covers are inclosed position, they may be secured against re moval through the use of conventional locking devices; suggested at 19. It will be observed that a considerable intermediate space is left open between the covers '18 and it is with this space and means for enclosing mince junction with the end covers 18, that the presentinvention is particularly concerned.

A short distance beneath the rim 16 of the front wall 12 is a bracket 21. This bracket extends substantially the full length of the front wall and is permanently attached thereto in any suitable manner, as by welding. The bracket includes an upper, horizontal flange 22 that terminates in a depending edge 23. The flange 22 provides a flat track surface 24 for anti-friction devices hereinafter set out. A similar bracket 26 is attached in any suitable manner, as by welding, to the inner face of the Patented July 5,196!) directly beneath the inturned 16, are provided with channels 31 which serve as'end reinforcements to this are covers hereinafter described i v. the presentyshowmgof the -invention, the space be- "the end covers 18 accommodates two identical intermediate covers ,33- Each cover fisof the :nature of d'therefore includes a flat working area 7 edge and re'a'rmost portions of the sides 0.5 each f these intermediatejcfoversis provided with a n1 or '35 for the purposeof, preventing displace fllent of material frotnth'e shelflas it is being worked a.wnlotth structure. .Ihe inner ra e of each chan e is'iitt'ed' with one or more resilient bumpers132..-,T;hese. ers are i l'the horizontal plane of ends et them 7 covers as required and-there is no necessity for theaddi V tional provision of some form of removable work shelf or posting board. In other words, the intermediate covers upon. Depending ,irom the'rearf edge Of the shelf is a 7 V of covers adapted to-renclos'e opposite end portions of 'fiange 37 whieh'is r'c'inforcedby a plate 38;. Two or more grooved rollers 39 are supported by the flange .37

. andextend beyond the rearedge of the cover and are intended to "ride fo'n the track 29.: The front. edge of each intermediate cover is also provided with a depending flange 41 that is suitably reinforcedto mount two or morerollers 42. These rollers areinten'ded tofr'est upon 1 track 24 that extends along the inner'front of the receptacle; Angle plates 43 are attachedto' the depending flanges '37 an'df41, the .horizontial portion 44 of each extending beneath the depending edges .23 and 28 of the treat and rear tracks. These angle plates serve to preventdispl'acement of the inte'rmediate cover from the tracksl For convenience of installation, these plates are 7 attached by screws, followingmounting the intermediate cover onth'e tracks, -Theendsof the intermediate covers ar' reinforcedin any suitable manner, as by channels i6 shown inFig "7 of the drawings. The adjacent ends of.

the' two. intermediate. coversvshown are fitted with suitable resilient bumpers 47"to eliminate undue noise in themovement of these covers along thetracks.

jFrom the foregoing it will be evident that at the time of assembly o'fthe receptacle the intermediate covers 33 are" placed on the tracks 24 and 29. Following this, the angle brackets .43 are attached to the intermediate covers and these'e'overs are thus limited to. movement lengthwise or; the receptacle along the tracks. When the intermediate coversare moved to a centered position, the end covers may be closed and locked by the locking devie-es 119.; Thus, of course, the end covers are not subject tounauthorized manipulation. Since the only move merit-of the intermediate covers '33, to expose the contents of the-receptacle, must be in the path of the tracks, and; the end covers interfere with this movement, these intermediate covers serve, with the end covers, to fully protect the receptacle contents. 'Whenone ofthe end the space previously covered by an end ,cover. This par tial open position of the receptacle is clearly shown in Figslil-and :Zof the drawings. When both end covers oecupy a fullyopened position, the intermediate covers maytraverse'the length of the receptacle in-order to expose, anypontionoi the materialcontained therein; in-the fact-that the intermediate covers are .of the thereof, anti-friction means mountingjs'aid v interrmediate' cover for movement along said track means. fron onef 7 tion, serving to'en close the intermediate portion of said 33, without self-contained locking devices, serve both as securable'covers and as work shelves.

7 Although applicants" have shown and described only one form of the invention, it will be apparent that the general proportions of the receptacle and size and numberof intermediate coversor shelves may be varied without departing in anyway from the spirit and scope of the invention as set out in'the annexed claims.

Patent is: a

1. A'receptacle having'a' top access opening,'a pair said opening, said covers being individually swingable into and out of enclosing position, angintermediater shelflike cover 'tadaptedi to closeithat portion of said opening not afiected'by said pair df 'cove'rs,.track means within said receptacle .extendingsubstantially the full length to the other endofsaid receptacle,- flange carrietl by said intermediate, cover underlying: said track n eans' and, 7

serving to' prevent removal oifsaid-interniediate cover from said trackmeans, I said intermediatejcover being] freely movable along said track means when said pair of covers occupy an open position and expose ftheqend portions of said access openingq i a V V 1 p v 2. A receptacle having atop access'opening, a. pair of covers adapted to enclose opposite end portions of said opening, said covers being individually swingable into and out of enclosing position, tracks extending alon-gthe interior front and rear walls of said receptacle, a shelflike intermediate cover-adapted to enclose that portion of said opening between said pair of covers, antiefriction means mounting said intermediate 'cover on said tracks, said tracks being vertically located to bring said" 7 intermediate cover substantially: into the plane of the upper front andrear edges of said walls, depending flanges on said intermediate cover extending beneath said tracks'and serving to prevent removal of said intermediate cover from said tracks, said intermediate cover, when said pair of covers occupy-a closed Qposiaccess openingand'be secured against movement.

1688,104- Lohrman, Dec 3,:1901 764,832 vValentine July 12,1904 1,372,536 Qhnstrand as .Mar. 22,, 1921 1,764,612 Dickinson June 17,1930 1 2,418,244 Baird .AP 15 9, 7" 2,497,278 Soderlund Feb.., 1:4,:1950

2,543,956 Buss 2,574,162 Baker 1 H 2,684,277" Hamacher July 20,1954 1 References Cited in the tile of this-patent; UNITED STATES'PAIENTS 

